1985 Westerly Merlin Special Edition

EXCELLENT DAY SAILER IN LOVELY CONDITION With 3 year old tender and 2 year old electric outboard - all for £15750 Ashore at Baltic Wharf and being prepped for the 2026 season by the very knowledgeable Owner. 'Morning Star' is a very well-maintained, lightly used, Westerly Merlin Special Edition which can be summarised as a 'little big yacht'. Significant expenditure and improvements by this Owner include: new sprayhood to match the colour of the recent lazy-jacks bag, matching dodgers; lightly used Merlin cruising chute; new UV edging strip; etc. Cockpit and fore-deck re-painted. Also, recent regular maintenance work such as: Checking and replacing some of the jib-sheet track car rollers, etc. Marking the chain every 5 metres Pressure washed and hull polished. 'Morning Star' is a comfortable day-cruiser with twin bilge keels, ideal for a first start into cruising. The recent improvements were commissioned by the current Owner who is a highly-qualified and very experienced Cruising Instructor on larger yachts. The current Owner travelled around the UK to find a good example of a Westerly Merlin Special Edition and promptly bought this yacht on the East Coast - just before Covid - and has improved it further after transportation to the West Country. In Plymouth, after road transportation, the rigging was inspected and renewed as necessary. Thus, 'Morning Star' benefits from recent new rigging and the installation of lazy-jacks so single-handed sailing of this Westerly Merlin is even easier. The previous owners - on the East Coast - enjoyed this Westerly Merlin Special Edition for about 15 years with much expenditure including: a new diesel engine in 2007 (with only about 990 hours to date) some new Jekyll sails in 2010, and much more. Westerly Yachts introduced the Merlin class in1984, their first with an aft one and a half berth cabin. Strongly built (Lloyd's Certified - SOU 510211 refers) with spacious and attractive accommodation due to the interior joinery including a lovely holly and ash cabin sole. In addition there is excellent velour upholstery so the boat's interior seems much younger than the age of the hull. This proven Westerly Merlin yacht has good sailing performance so 'Morning Star' makes an ideal family cruiser which benefits from twin bilge keels. When built, 'Morning Star' was fitted with the optional wooden laminates to the head/ceiling of the main saloon thus eliminating 'Westerly droop' as there is no conventional head-lining in the main saloon. Only for sale as the Vendor, being a Cruising Instructor, receives regular invitations to sail in sunny climes on larger yachts belonging to others. Hard to refuse such invitations which is why 'Morning Star' needs a new custodian. Broker's Comments. With only three owners from new Morning Star has benefitted from regular equipment updates and/or replacements. This Westerly Merlin presents well with a delightful interior - there is much charm and character aboard